THE ROOMIE (Pedro pascal)

Chapter 2

"I swear I'm eating well" Lua García told to the voice in the phone "Yesterday I started my thesis revisions".

Carmen Martinez, Lua's mother, had been making the weekly call since her daughter had moved to New York. "Don't change the subject young lady, I feel like there's something you're not telling me".

''Mom, believe me, I don't have any problems, and tell dad to stop worrying so much that he's going to get even more gray hairs'' Lua explained as she walked in circles.

''You know that if something happens, you can count on us, right?'' Carmen assured her over the phone.

''Yes mom, I know'' Lua nodded her head even though Carmen couldn't see her ''I have to go, I'm meeting some friends. I love you so much, say hello to dad and sister.''

''From you'' Carmen replied ''We love you my little princess, see you later''.

After finishing the call, Lua bit her lip while looking at her palms. She hated lying to her parents, but they couldn't know that she had money problems. They would try to help her, even if they have even bigger problems. She turned to look at the microwave clock and with a huff that ruffled her bangs, she started walking to her closet.

Lua always fantasized about becoming an editor, and now she had moved away from home to pursue a master's degree at her dream university. Unfortunately, living in New York is not something she had the budget for, so she had two jobs. She was a literature tutor for highschoolers, and she worked a night shift at a Mexican restaurant. She sometimes wondered who would need a taco at two in the morning, but she was grateful to have a job.

Lua put on her uniform to go to her job as a waitress, took the keys that were on the table and in her way out, she stopped to look at herself in the little mirror that was next to the door. She couldn't help but noticing that the dark circles were getting worse every day, and tilting her head, she tried to recognize herself. It hadn't been easy to leave home, even after eight months, there were mornings after waking up that she had a feeling that something was missing. She imagined a life in which it was true that she would be going to a party with friends instead of work, and with that thought on mind, she left.

After a long shift, Lua found herself back in the apartment. Exhausted, she left her shoes at the entrance and left a trail of clothes until she reached the couch. She rested her now heavy bones for a moment before turning to look at her computer. Time passed and in the darkness of a living room, Lua knew that she could not continue this life rhythm for long. The only solution she could think of was to find an apartment that had a fixed controlled rent. In New York, it was almost impossible, but she would have to try, she couldn't return home. While she was on page ten of the rental company website and her computer was the only source of light, she felt her eyelids getting heavier.

The silence of the night and Lua's sleep was interrupted by a sound coming from her phone. While she rubbed her neck in pain, she questioned her life decisions, like falling asleep on the couch or not having her phone on silent mode. Oh! but then she remembered that she was a genius. She quickly turned on her laptop and went to the rental company website. She would be the first to apply, and that notification was the one that would get her dreamed apartment.

A couple had just divorced, rumors say that she found him with her best friend, but there are no official reports on the matter. What we do know is that they left an available apartment in the middle of the city and with a fixed rent contract.

That couple had many misunderstandings; the children, the car, and of course, the apartment. The two argued about who would own it and since they would never communicate with each other, one of the many reasons that ruined their marriage, they ended up renting the apartment to two different people. The wife decided to rent the apartment to a young woman who was starting her life, and her husband to a man who needed another opportunity in life.

They truly could never agree.